Hydraulic directional control valves

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a manually operable spool-type fluid pressure control valve that has a releasable locking mechanism to maintain the spool valve in certain of its positions until subjected to an axial force in excess of a chosen value. This locking mechanism comprises a plurality of balls and a pair of cam surfaces along which the balls roll when the spool valve is manually moved from one position to another. A fluid pressure force effective on one of the cam surfaces biases it against the balls to maintain them in either of two positions until the spool valve is subject to an external force in excess of the chosen value.

1 Feb. 1, 1972 United States Patent Krieter [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,276,979 3/1942 .lacobi..............................

[54] HYDRAULIC DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES [72} Inventor:

Horst Krieter, Stollenweg, Germany Assignee: Westinghouse BremsenundAppnrate-bau 2,689,585 9/l954 Presnell.........................-..l37/624.27

G.m.b.li., Hunnover, Germany Mar. 30, [970 Primary Examiner-Alan CohanAttorney-Ralph W. Mclntire. Jr.

I22] Filed:

2] A l.No.:

I I pp ABSTRACT This invention relates to a manually operable spool-typefluid pressure control valve that has a releasable locking [30] ForeignApplication Priority Data May 29, 1969 Germany..................r..

,P 19 27 4653 mechanism to maintain the spool valve in certain of itspositions until subjected to an axial force in excess of a chosen [s2U.S.Ci......................... ...........l37/624.27, 137/625.69 value-This mkmg mechanism mPriSes a balls and a pair of cam surfaces alongwhich the balls roll when the spool valve is manually moved from oneposition to another. A

Int. 11/07 [58] Field ofSearch t..............i37/612427, 625.69, 102,i07;

fluid pressure force effective on one of the cam surfaces biases 251/94it against the balls to maintain them in either of two positions untilthe spool valve is subject to an external force in excess of the chosenvalue.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SHEET 1 0F 2 PATENTEB FEB 1 I972 HYDRAULICDIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES The invention concerns a lock and releasearrangement for control slide hydraulic path flow valves with oneneutral and one or two control positions for the control of thedouble-acting cylinder which holds securely the control slide when it ispushed into a control position by the means of the action of thepressure differential operative engagement arrangement with thecompressing of an opposing operative return spring and releases it bythe means of the automatic elimination of the pressure differentialwhereby the control slide is moved back into its neutral position.

In one well-known lock and release arrangement the engagementarrangement consists of two engagement grooves arranged on the controlslide and an engagement member with a piston that is arranged in amovable manner in the valve housing traverse to the slide axis and whichis subjected to a pressure differential. As the means for developingthis pressure differential there is provided a return check valve thatis also arranged in the valve housing.

This well-known lock and release arrangement has the disadvantage thatit requires a large volume inside of the valve housing whereby thelatter is very space consuming. Additional disadvantages are theone-sided loading of the slide by the means of the engagement force thatacts on it and the passages required in the valve housing for theassembling of the return check valve and the engagement member, theopening of which must be sealed from the outside against the highoperating pressure. The equalization passages which are provided in thepiston prevent the utilization of the so-called negative overlap, theexplanation of which for the technician appears unnecessary.

The invention establishes as its basic purpose to eliminate thesedisadvantages. This appears in accordance with the invention thereby inthat the mediums to develop the pressure differential as well as alsothus the engagement medium that is subjected to this pressuredifferential are arranged in the control slide. In addition, it isestablished in accordance with the invention that the engagement mediumsare movable due to the action of the pressure differential relative tothe control slide in the lengthwise direction of the slide.

In a practical manner the engagement arrangement holds securely thecontrol slide in the conventional manner with the engagement force whichis dependent upon the pressure differential.

In additional design of the invention the medium for the development ofthe pressure differential is constructed as a return check valve. Inaddition, it is established that the engagement arrangement consists ofan engagement sleeve that is arranged in the control slide coaxiallywith it and which due to the action of the pressure differential isaxially movable relative to the control slide as well as also likewisethe engagement balls arranged in the control slide, which by the meansof the engagement sleeve are movable into the engagement groove. It isadvantageous whenever the engagement sleeve varies the valve seat of thereturn check valve. With path flow valves with two control positions,the lock and release arrangement can be arranged dual and, indeed, insuch a manner that each control position is arranged with a lock andrelease unit, whereby the lock and release units can exhibit eitherseparated mediums for the developing of the pressure differential andseparated engagement medium subjected to this pressure differential orseparated mediums for the development of the pressure difi'erential andcommon engagement medium subjected to the pressure differential.

In the following, three typical designs in accordance with theconditions of the invention are approximately described with referenceto the drawing.

It is illustrated as follows:

FIG. I is a hydraulic path flow valve for a double-acting cylinder withtwo control positions and a lock and release arrangement in accordancewith the conditions of the invention shown in the neutral position.

FIG. 2 is the path flow valve from FIG. 1 shown in the control positionthat is arranged for the lock and release arrangement.

FIG. 3 is a partial view of another typical design form of the path flowvalve in accordance with the FIGS. 1 and 2, with two control positionsfor each of which there is arranged a lock and a release unitarrangement in accordance with the conditions of theinvention wherebyboth lock and release units exhibit separated mediums for thedevelopment of the pressure differential and separated engagementmediums which are subjected to this pressure differential, that is shownillustrated in the neutral position.

FIG. 4 is an additional typical design form of the path flow valve inaccordance with the FIG. 3, with two control positions for each of whicha lock and release unit is arranged in accordance with the conditions ofthe invention, whereby both lock and release units exhibit separatedmediums for the development of the pressure differential and a commonengagement medium that is subjected to the pressure differential, thatis shown illustrated in the neutral position.

The path flow valve in accordance with the FIGS. 1 and 2 consists of thevalve housing 1 with the housing passage 2 in which the control slide 3is movable. Three control slides 4, 5 and 6 and five circular chambers7, 8, 9, l0 and 11 work together with the displacing of the controlslide 3 in the manner that is familiar to the technician. The circularchamber 7 is in connection by means of the piping 12 with the pump Pwhich by the means of the pressure limiting valve 13 is established. Bythe means of the circular groove 16 on the control slide 3 as well asthe passageways 17 and I8 and the piping 19, the circular chamber 7 isconnectable with the pressureless return circuit or pump inlet.

The circular chamber 8 is connected by the means of the piping 20 withthe one operating chamber of the double-acting cylinder 21, whose otheroperating chamber is connected by the means of the piping 22 with thecircular chamber 9. The circular chambers 10 and 11 are in connectionwith the pressureless return circuit by the means of the pipings 23 and24 respectively.

The lock and release arrangement 25 in accordance with the conditions ofthe invention exhibits the engagement arrangement 26 consisting of theengagement groove 27 that is arranged in the valve housing 1 coaxiallyto the housing passage 2, the engagement sleeve 29 with the lengthwisepassageway 30 that is arranged in the lengthwise passageways 28 of thecontrol slide 3 coaxial to it and movable axially relative to it, andequal sized stern areas as well as out of engagement balls 31a and 31bthat are arranged in a movable manner in the radial passageways 32a and32b that are equally divided in the control slide, and that can bedisplaced in a partial manner in the circular groove 33 of theengagement sleeve 29 with the ball shaped engagement surface 34. In thefigure two engagement balls are visible. The engagement arrangement 26,however, can exhibit more than two as well as three or four engagementballs. I

The lock and release arrangement 25 exhibits in addition thereto thereturn check valve 35, and seat 36 that serves as the medium for thedevelopment of the pressure differential that is arranged in thelengthwise passageway 28 in the control slide 3 and that is constructedby the means of the spring loaded valve ball 35 and the valve seat 36that is carried by the engagement sleeve 29. The inner chamber of thecontrol slide 3 that is formed by the means of the passage 28 is dividedby the means of the return check valve 35 and seat 36 into two partialchambers 37 and 38. The partial chamber 37 is opened to the outside bythe means of the ports 39 and the partial chamber 38 is opened to theoutside by the means of the ports 40. By the means of the return spring4T, the control slide 3 is held in the neutral position as well asrespectively returned to this position when no other forces overbalance.

The manner of operation is as follows: in the neutral position that isshown in the FIG. I, the pump P is in connection with the pressurelesscircuit by the means of the circular chamber 7, the circular groove 16,the passages 17 and 18 and the piping 19. The piping 20 is closed off bythe means of the control slide 4, the piping 22 through the controlslide 6.

The closed return check valve 35, 36 separates the partial chambers 37and 38 from each other. The engagement sleeve 29 that is pressed by themeans of the spring-loaded valve ball 35 is held by the means of theengagement balls 31a and 3117 that are partially pushed into thecircular groove 33.

When the control slide is pulled into the first control position, thatis shown in the FIG. 2, against the force of the return spring 41, thenthe connection between the pump P and the pressureless return circuit isinterrupted by the means of the covering of the passageway 17 wherebythe pressure pl is built up in the partial chamber 37 that is connectedwith the circular chamber 7 by the means of the ports 39. The pressuremedium unseats the return check valve 35 from its seat 36 whereby bothpartial chambers 37 and 38 are connected by meansof the passage 30 andthe pressure p2 is developed in the partial chamber 38 which is smallerthan that pressure pl that is in existence in the partial chamber 37whereby the pressure differential A N-p2 is dependent upon the springforce that activates on the valve ball 35. The engagement sleeve 29 isactivated on the one stern surface with the pressure pl and on the otherstern surface with the pressure p2 wherefrom there is provided a forcethat moves the engagement sleeve -relative to the control slide 3 in anupward direction on the drawing. The engagement sleeve 29 which servesas engagement medium under the pressure differential Ap=pl-p2 forces theengagement balls 31a and 31b out from the circular groove 33 with theengagement surface 34 and pushed them into the engagement groove 27. Theengagement arrangement 26 is so with engaged and the engagement balls31a and 31b hold the control slide 3 in the control position securelywith the engagement force that is greater than the opposing force of thereturn spring 41. The value of this engagement force is dependent uponthe value of the pressure differential Ap that activates on theengagement sleeve 29 and upon the force transfer that is developed bythe means ofthe angle of the ball formed engagement area 34.

In the control position that is shown in the FIG. 2, the upper operatingchamber of the cylinder 21 is pressure activated by the means of thecircular chamber 7, the upper ports 39, the partial chamber 37, thepassageway 30, the partial chamber 38 and ports 40, the circular chamber8 and the piping 20, whereas the lower operating chamber is connected bythe means of the piping 22, the circular chambers 9 and and the piping23 and 19 with the pressureless return circuit. The lock and releasearrangement holds the control slide 3 securely in the illustratedcontrol position so long as the flow from the partial chamber 37 to thepartial chamber 38 is in existence. However, if this flow ceases becauseof desired or undesired conditions, then Ap collapses and therewith theengagement force whereby the control slide 3 is released and is broughtback into its neutral position by the means of the return spring 41.Hereby, the engagement balls 31a and 31b are moved out of engagementwith the engagement groove 27 and are moved along with the control slide3.

The control slide 3 can also assume a second control position in whichit is pressed so far in a downward direction until the control slide 6provides free opening for the connection between the pump P and thelower operating chamber of the cylinder 21 by the means of the circularchamber 7, the passage 2, the circular chamber 9 and the piping 22,whereas the circular slide 4 provides free opening for the connectionbetween the upper operating chamber of the cylinder 21 and thepressureless return circuit by the means of the piping 20, the circularchambers 8 and 11 and the piping 24 and 19. In this unengagement controlposition thus the operating cylinder 21 is activated in the directionthat is reversed in direction to the engaged control position. Since thepartial chamber 38 is closed by the means of the control slides 4 and 5,the return check valve remains shut, whereby there is no flow betweenthe partial chambers 37 and 38, and so with no Ap is available, and as aconsequence of lock and release arrangement is operative.

The typical design example that is in accordance with the FIG. 3 isdifferent from the typical design example in accordance with the FIGS. 1and 2 thus merely in that in as well as the first also the secondcontrol position is arranged with a lock and release position. In theFIG. 3, the lock and release arrangement unit 42 that is provided forthe second control position is shown with the return check valve 43 andvalve seat 44 that serves as the medium to develop a pressuredifferential and the engagement arrangement 45. Otherwise the path flowvalve is inclusively identical to the lock and release unit that isarranged to the first control position as constructed in the FIGS. 1 and2, and therefore not further explained. Also the lock and release unit42 is identical to the lockand release unit constructed by 25. I

The manner of operation of the path flow valve in accordance with theFIG. 3 is different from that of the path flow valves in accordance withthe FIGS. 1 and 2 merely thereby in that the control slide 46 also isengaged in the second control position by'the means of the lock andrelease unit 42 that is arranged to it. The manner of operation of thelock and release unit 42 is in conformity to that of the lock andrelease unit 25 in FIG. 1 and therefore is not explained any further.

The typical design example in accordance with the FIG. 4 is differentfrom the typical design example in accordance with the FIG. 3 merely inthat both the lock and release units exhibit common engagement mediumsthat are subject to the pressure differential.

For the only difference from the typical design example in accordancewith FIG. 3 both the lock and release units 47 and 48 exhibit a commonengagement sleeve 49 which has a circular groove 50 that exhibitsengagement surfaces 51 and 52 that operate in the opposed positiondirection and whose lengthwise passage 53 is closed off at both ends bythe means of the return flow check valve 54 and 55 and their respectiveseats 56 and 57 as in the neutral position of the FIG. 4. The innerchamber of the engagement sleeve is opened to the out side by the meansof the ports 58. The engagement arrangements 59 and 60 exhibit commonengagement balls 61a and 611; which are movable in accordance with thedesired control position either from the engagement surface 52 into theengagement groove 62 or from the engagement surface 52 into theengagement groove 63. The springs that load the valve balls 54 as wellas 55 respectively are measured so that they, with a relativedisplacement of the engagement sleeve 49 that is caused by thedeformation of the spring, do not interfere with the function of thevalve. The manner of operation of the path flow valve in accordance withthe FIG. 4 is identical to that of the path flow valve in accordancewith FIG. 3 and therefore is not explained any further.

It is familiar to the technician without anything additional that thelock and release arrangement in accordance with the conditions of theinvention is also useable in flow path valves for simple operatingcylinders. In an advantageous manner, it is also further possible thatthe return check valve 35, and seat 36 does not only develop thepressure differential required for the lock and release arrangement, butthat it also makes it possible by the means of its return check functionfor the use of the negative overlap.

Additionally to the advantages that are obtained from the function thatis not pressure, but instead is by the means of the through flowdependent function, the lock and release arrangement in accordance withthe invention has the advantage in that for its accommodation in pathflow valves, it is only necessary to require a very short measuredadditional length for the slides, however, no additional valve crosssection is necessary. The halt and release arrangement has a very simplestructure and can very easily be assembled. The control arrangement ofthe engagement sleeve 29 which the engagement balls 31a and 31b activateguarantees an equal application of the control slides by the means ofthe engagement forces which act upon them. In the described typicaldesigns,

the engagement members are constructed as balls. They can, however, alsoexhibit other practical forms for their function.

It is decernible from the figures that the outer lying positionedhousing chambers and 11 (HO. 1) are connected, in each operatingposition of the control slide, with the pressureless return circuit.Thereby, the sealing of the stems of the control slide 3 that lead tothe outside is simple and operationally positive.

The housings of the numerous path flow valves that are established withthe lock and release arrangements in accordance with the inventionconditions can be closed in together into a unit in the useable manner.

With the lock and release arrangement in accordance with the inventionconditions, the engagement force can be held small in such a manner thatthe control slide 3 can be moved backward from each side by hand intothe neutral position with the overcoming of the engagement force.

Having now described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a releasably locked multiposition supply and release control valvedevice for controlling the operation of a fluid motor;

a. valve means for controlling the supply of fluid under pressure to andthe release of fluid underpressure from the fluid motor, said valvemeans comprising:

i. a casing having a bore at the wall surface of which opens thelongitudinally spaced-apart one end ofa plurality of passagewaysextending through said casing to the exterior thereof,

ii. a ported hollow spool-type valve slidably mounted in said bore andmovable therein in opposite directions, and wherein the improvementcomprises:

iii. a one-way flow valve means movable mounted in said hollowspool-type valve and operable in cooperation with said spool-type valveto establish a first communication between one and another of saidpassageways upon movement of said spool-type valve from a firstposition, in which said spool-type valve solely establishes a secondcommunication between said one passageway and a third one of saidplurality of passageways, to a second position in which saidcommunication between said one and said third passageways is closed andsaid communication between said one and another passageways is open, and

b. means cooperable with said casing and said spool-type valve andoperable, upon said spool-type valve establishing said communicationbetween said one and another passageways, by the difference in thepressure in said one and another passageways to inhibit said one-wayflow valve means from closing said communication.

2. In a releasably locked multiposition supply and release control valvedevice, as recited in claim 1, further characterized in that saidone-way flow valve means comprises:

a. a valve,

b. a hollow cylindrical member provided with a valve seat at one end andwith a peripheral annular groove having an inclined surface at the endthereof opposite the valve seat, said cylindrical member being movablymounted in said hollow spool-type valve, and

c. biasing means normally biasing said valve into seating contact withsaid valve seat,

and said means cooperable with said casing and said spooltype valvecomprises:

a. a cam surface formed on the wall surface of said bore in said casing,and

b, means interposed between said peripheral annular groove on saidhollow cylindrical member and said cam surface,

c. said cam surface and said inclined surface cooperating to provide forradial movement of said means in the direction away from said peripheralannular groove and in one direction along said cam surface by saidinclined surface upon movement of said cylindrical member in thedirection to establish said pressure differential, and radial movementin the direction toward-said groove and in the opposite direction alongsaid cam surface upon movement of said cylindrical member in an oppositedirection in response to cessation of said pressure differential. 5 3.In a releasably locked multiposition-supply and release control valvedevice, as recited'in claim 2, further characterized in that said hollowspool-type valve is provided with a plurality of radially extendingports, and said means interposed between said peripheral annular'grooveand said cam surface comprises a plurality of balls disposed in saidradially extending ports.

4. In a releasably locked multiposition supply and release control valvedevice, as recited in claim I, further characterized in that said valvemeans also comprises:

a. a second one-way flow valve means spaced-apart from said firstone-way flow valve means and movably mounted in said hollow spool-typevalve, said two oneway flow valve means being successively operable toestablish respectively a first communication between said one and saidanother passageway and a second communication between said one and afourth one of said plurality of passageways upon the respectivesuccessive movements of said spool-type valve in opposite directionsfrom a first position in which said spool-type valve solely establishesa third communication between said one passageway and a fifth one ofsaid plurality of passageways to a second position, and from said firstposition to a third position, in each of which second and thirdpositions said third communication is closed.

5. In a releasably locked multiposition supply and release control valvedevice, as recited in claim 4 further characterized in that said secondone-way flow valve means comprises:

a. a valve,

b. a hollow cylindrical member provided with a valve seat at one end andwith a peripheral annular groove intermediate its ends, said groovehaving an annular inclined surface at the end thereof opposite saidvalve seat, and

c. biasing means normally biasing said valve into seating contact withthe corresponding valve seat,

d. said pair of one-way flow means being slidably mounted in therespective opposite ends of said hollow spool-type valve.

6. In a releasably locked multiposition supply and release control valvedevice, as recited in claim 5, further characterized in that said meanscooperable with said casing and said spool-type valve comprises:

a. a pair of spaced-apart and oppositely arranged cam surfaces formed onthe wall surface of said bore in said casing, and

b. a plurality of spherical members interposed between said peripheralannular groove on each hollow cylindrical member and a corresponding oneof said pair of cam surfaces,

c. each of said cam surfaces and the inclined surface on a correspondinghollow cylindrical member cooperating to provide for radial movement ofcorresponding ones of said spherical members in the direction away fromthe peripheral annular groove on said corresponding hollow cylindricalmember and in one direction along the corresponding cam surface by saidinclined surface upon movement of said corresponding hollow cylindricalmember in the direction responsive to the establishment of acorresponding pressure differential, and radial movement of saidcorresponding ones of saidspherical members in the direction toward saidperipheral annular groove on said corresponding hollow cylindricalmember and in the opposite direction along said corresponding camsurface upon movement of said corresponding hollow cylindrical member inan opposite direction in response to the cessation of said correspondingpressure differential.

7, In a releasably locked multiposition supply and release faces,control valve device, as recited in claim 4, further characor saidplurality of movable members being movable radially terized in that saidspool-type valve is ported, and said pair of with respect to saidspool-type valve and said cylindrical spaced-apart one-way flow valvemeans comprises: valve member in the direction away from said peripherala. a hollow cylindrical valve member slidably mounted S annular grooveon aid li dric l lve e be b e Within Said hollow p yp Valve member formove" or the other of said inclined surfaces thereon and into in ppdirections with respect to Said hollow abutting relationship with one orthe other of said cam p yp V31, Said hollow cylindrical Valve membersurfaces upon movement of said cylindrical valve having an annular ValveSeat at each end thereof and member from a normal position in onedirection or in an being P 'f 3 p p i annular 9 f 10 opposite directionwith respect to said spool-type valve to med'ate ends 531d groove havmgannular mclmed establish one or another of said pressure differentials,and

surface at each end thereof,

b. a pair of valves, each cooperative with a corresponding one of saidannular valve seats to control flow past the respective valve, and

c. biasing means normally biasing each of said valves into seatingcontact with its corresponding valve seat,

and said means cooperating with said casing and said spooltype valvecomprises:

a. a pair of spaced-apart oppositely arranged cam surfaces formed on thewall of said bore in said casing, and

b. a plurality of movable members normally disposed in cer tain of saidports in said spool-type valve and normally interposed between saidperipheral annular groove on said hollow cylindrical valve member andthe wall of said bore in said casing extending between said pair of camsurmovable radially in the direction toward said peripheral annulargroove on said hollow cylindrical valve member by one or the other ofsaid cam surfaces upon return of said hollow cylindrical valve member tosaid normal position in response to cessation of said one or another ofsaid pressure differentials. 8. In a releasably locked multipositionsupply and release control valve device, as recited in claim 7, furthercharacterized in that each of said pair of cam surfaces formed on thewall of said bore in said casing comprises a first internal cylindricalwall surface connected to a second coaxial internal cylindrical wallsurface of larger diameter by an internal truncated conical wallsurface.

1. In a releasably locked multiposition supply and release control valvedevice for controlling the operation of a fluid motor; a. valve meansfor controlling the supply of fluid under pressure to and the release offluid under pressure from the fluid motor, said valve means comprising:i. a casing having a bore at the wall surface of which opens thelongitudinally spaced-apart one end of a plurality of passagewaysextending through said casing to the exterior thereof, ii. a portedhollow spool-type valve slidably mounted in said bore and movabletherein in opposite directions, and wherein the improvement comprises:iii. a one-way flow valve means mOvable mounted in said hollowspool-type valve and operable in cooperation with said spooltype valveto establish a first communication between one and another of saidpassageways upon movement of said spool-type valve from a firstposition, in which said spool-type valve solely establishes a secondcommunication between said one passageway and a third one of saidplurality of passageways, to a second position in which saidcommunication between said one and said third passageways is closed andsaid communication between said one and another passageways is open, andb. means cooperable with said casing and said spool-type valve andoperable, upon said spool-type valve establishing said communicationbetween said one and another passageways, by the difference in thepressure in said one and another passageways to inhibit said one-wayflow valve means from closing said communication.
 2. In a releasablylocked multiposition supply and release control valve device, as recitedin claim 1, further characterized in that said one-way flow valve meanscomprises: a. a valve, b. a hollow cylindrical member provided with avalve seat at one end and with a peripheral annular groove having aninclined surface at the end thereof opposite the valve seat, saidcylindrical member being movably mounted in said hollow spool-typevalve, and c. biasing means normally biasing said valve into seatingcontact with said valve seat, and said means cooperable with said casingand said spool-type valve comprises: a. a cam surface formed on the wallsurface of said bore in said casing, and b. means interposed betweensaid peripheral annular groove on said hollow cylindrical member andsaid cam surface, c. said cam surface and said inclined surfacecooperating to provide for radial movement of said means in thedirection away from said peripheral annular groove and in one directionalong said cam surface by said inclined surface upon movement of saidcylindrical member in the direction to establish said pressuredifferential, and radial movement in the direction toward said grooveand in the opposite direction along said cam surface upon movement ofsaid cylindrical member in an opposite direction in response tocessation of said pressure differential.
 3. In a releasably lockedmultiposition supply and release control valve device, as recited inclaim 2, further characterized in that said hollow spool-type valve isprovided with a plurality of radially extending ports, and said meansinterposed between said peripheral annular groove and said cam surfacecomprises a plurality of balls disposed in said radially extendingports.
 4. In a releasably locked multiposition supply and releasecontrol valve device, as recited in claim 1, further characterized inthat said valve means also comprises: a. a second one-way flow valvemeans spaced-apart from said first one-way flow valve means and movablymounted in said hollow spool-type valve, said two one-way flow valvemeans being successively operable to establish respectively a firstcommunication between said one and said another passageway and a secondcommunication between said one and a fourth one of said plurality ofpassageways upon the respective successive movements of said spool-typevalve in opposite directions from a first position in which saidspool-type valve solely establishes a third communication between saidone passageway and a fifth one of said plurality of passageways to asecond position, and from said first position to a third position, ineach of which second and third positions said third communication isclosed.
 5. In a releasably locked multiposition supply and releasecontrol valve device, as recited in claim 4 further characterized inthat said second one-way flow valve means comprises: a. a valve, b. ahollow cylindrical member provided with a valve seat at one end and witha peripheral annular groove intermediate its ends, said groove having anannular inclineD surface at the end thereof opposite said valve seat,and c. biasing means normally biasing said valve into seating contactwith the corresponding valve seat, d. said pair of one-way flow meansbeing slidably mounted in the respective opposite ends of said hollowspool-type valve.
 6. In a releasably locked multiposition supply andrelease control valve device, as recited in claim 5, furthercharacterized in that said means cooperable with said casing and saidspool-type valve comprises: a. a pair of spaced-apart and oppositelyarranged cam surfaces formed on the wall surface of said bore in saidcasing, and b. a plurality of spherical members interposed between saidperipheral annular groove on each hollow cylindrical member and acorresponding one of said pair of cam surfaces, c. each of said camsurfaces and the inclined surface on a corresponding hollow cylindricalmember cooperating to provide for radial movement of corresponding onesof said spherical members in the direction away from the peripheralannular groove on said corresponding hollow cylindrical member and inone direction along the corresponding cam surface by said inclinedsurface upon movement of said corresponding hollow cylindrical member inthe direction responsive to the establishment of a correspondingpressure differential, and radial movement of said corresponding ones ofsaid spherical members in the direction toward said peripheral annulargroove on said corresponding hollow cylindrical member and in theopposite direction along said corresponding cam surface upon movement ofsaid corresponding hollow cylindrical member in an opposite direction inresponse to the cessation of said corresponding pressure differential.7. In a releasably locked multiposition supply and release control valvedevice, as recited in claim 4, further characterized in that saidspool-type valve is ported, and said pair of spaced-apart one-way flowvalve means comprises: a. a hollow cylindrical valve member slidablymounted within said hollow spool-type valve member for movement inopposite directions with respect to said hollow spool-type valve, saidhollow cylindrical valve member having an annular valve seat at each endthereof, and being provided with a peripheral annular grooveintermediate its ends, said groove having an annular inclined surface ateach end thereof, b. a pair of valves, each cooperative with acorresponding one of said annular valve seats to control flow past therespective valve, and c. biasing means normally biasing each of saidvalves into seating contact with its corresponding valve seat, and saidmeans cooperating with said casing and said spool-type valve comprises:a. a pair of spaced-apart oppositely arranged cam surfaces formed on thewall of said bore in said casing, and b. a plurality of movable membersnormally disposed in certain of said ports in said spool-type valve andnormally interposed between said peripheral annular groove on saidhollow cylindrical valve member and the wall of said bore in said casingextending between said pair of cam surfaces, c. said plurality ofmovable members being movable radially with respect to said spool-typevalve and said cylindrical valve member in the direction away from saidperipheral annular groove on said cylindrical valve member by one or theother of said inclined surfaces thereon and into abutting relationshipwith one or the other of said cam surfaces upon movement of saidcylindrical valve member from a normal position in one direction or inan opposite direction with respect to said spool-type valve to establishone or another of said pressure differentials, and movable radially inthe direction toward said peripheral annular groove on said hollowcylindrical valve member by one or the other of said cam surfaces uponreturn of said hollow cylindrical valve member to said normal positionin response to cessation of said one or another of said pressuredifferentials.
 8. In a releasably locked multiposition supply andrelease control valve device, as recited in claim 7, furthercharacterized in that each of said pair of cam surfaces formed on thewall of said bore in said casing comprises a first internal cylindricalwall surface connected to a second coaxial internal cylindrical wallsurface of larger diameter by an internal truncated conical wallsurface.